The Social Biology of Microbial Communities

The Social Biology of Microbial Communities

Author: Institute of Medicine

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2013-01-10

Total Pages: 633

ISBN-13: 0309264324

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Beginning with the germ theory of disease in the 19th century and extending through most of the 20th century, microbes were believed to live their lives as solitary, unicellular, disease-causing organisms . This perception stemmed from the focus of most investigators on organisms that could be grown in the laboratory as cellular monocultures, often dispersed in liquid, and under ambient conditions of temperature, lighting, and humidity. Most such inquiries were designed to identify microbial pathogens by satisfying Koch's postulates.3 This pathogen-centric approach to the study of microorganisms produced a metaphorical "war" against these microbial invaders waged with antibiotic therapies, while simultaneously obscuring the dynamic relationships that exist among and between host organisms and their associated microorganisms-only a tiny fraction of which act as pathogens. Despite their obvious importance, very little is actually known about the processes and factors that influence the assembly, function, and stability of microbial communities. Gaining this knowledge will require a seismic shift away from the study of individual microbes in isolation to inquiries into the nature of diverse and often complex microbial communities, the forces that shape them, and their relationships with other communities and organisms, including their multicellular hosts. On March 6 and 7, 2012, the Institute of Medicine's (IOM's) Forum on Microbial Threats hosted a public workshop to explore the emerging science of the "social biology" of microbial communities. Workshop presentations and discussions embraced a wide spectrum of topics, experimental systems, and theoretical perspectives representative of the current, multifaceted exploration of the microbial frontier. Participants discussed ecological, evolutionary, and genetic factors contributing to the assembly, function, and stability of microbial communities; how microbial communities adapt and respond to environmental stimuli; theoretical and experimental approaches to advance this nascent field; and potential applications of knowledge gained from the study of microbial communities for the improvement of human, animal, plant, and ecosystem health and toward a deeper understanding of microbial diversity and evolution. The Social Biology of Microbial Communities: Workshop Summary further explains the happenings of the workshop.


Quorum Sensing

Quorum Sensing

Author: Giuseppina Tommonaro

Publisher: Academic Press

Published: 2019-04-08

Total Pages: 312

ISBN-13: 012814906X

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Quorum sensing (QS) is a process of bacterial cooperative behaviour that has an effect on gene regulation. This cell-to-cell communication system involves the production of signalling molecules according to cell density and growth stage. Virulence, the ability to infest a habitat and cause disease, is also governed by such communication signals. Quorum Sensing: Molecular mechanism and biotechnological application collects, describes and summarizes the most interesting results obtained from experts working on QS mechanisms. It contributes to the understanding of the molecular basis that regulates this mechanism, and describes new findings in fields of application. This volume describes the QS mechanism from its molecular basis to medical applications such as antibiotic therapy and involvement of QS in pathologies. This reference also analyzes its potential use in biotechnological applications such as food packaging, drug delivery, and marine biofilm. The broad scope of this title will be of significant use to researchers across several fields with interest in QS, including to microbiologists, chemists, biochemists and ecologists. - Describes Quorum Sensing (QS) mechanisms from their molecular basis, to their clinical applications - Spans several fields in relation to QS, including microbiology, chemistry, biochemistry and ecology - Considers QS as an approach to the discovery of new antibiotics - Looks at QS as a means to understand the microbial world and towards use of bacteria and their products in biotechnological applications - Summarizes key results on QS mechanisms' molecular basis and fields of application


Microbial Sensing in Fermentation

Microbial Sensing in Fermentation

Author: Satinder K. Brar

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2019-01-04

Total Pages: 352

ISBN-13: 1119247969

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A comprehensive review of the fundamental molecular mechanisms in fermentation and explores the microbiology of fermentation technology and industrial applications Microbial Sensing in Fermentation presents the fundamental molecular mechanisms involved in the process of fermentation and explores the applied art of microbiology and fermentation technology. The text contains descriptions regarding the extraordinary sensing ability of microorganisms towards small physicochemical changes in their surroundings. The contributors — noted experts in the field — cover a wide range of topics such as microbial metabolism and production (fungi, bacteria, yeast etc); refined and non-refined carbon sources; bioprocessing; microbial synthesis, responses and performance; and biochemical, molecular and extra/intracellular controlling. This resource contains a compilation of literature on biochemical and cellular level mechanisms for microbial controlled production and includes the most significant recent advances in industrial fermentation. The text offers a balanced approach between theory and practical application, and helps readers gain a clear understanding of microbial physiological adaptation during fermentation and its cumulative effect on productivity. This important book: Presents the fundamental molecular mechanisms involved in microbial sensing in relation to fermentation technology Includes information on the significant recent advances in industrial fermentation Contains contributions from a panel of highly-respected experts in their respective fields Offers a resource that will be essential reading for scientists, professionals and researchers from academia and industry with an interest in the biochemistry and microbiology of fermentation technology Written for researchers, graduate and undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds, such as biochemistry and applied microbiology, Microbial Sensing in Fermentation offers a review of the fundamental molecular mechanisms involved in the process of fermentation.


Bacterial Signaling

Bacterial Signaling

Author: Reinhard Krämer

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2009-12-09

Total Pages: 513

ISBN-13: 3527629246

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Providing a comprehensive insight into cellular signaling processes in bacteria with a special focus on biotechnological implications, this is the first book to cover intercellular as well as intracellular signaling and its relevance for biofilm formation, host pathogen interactions, symbiotic relationships, and photo- and chemotaxis. In addition, it deals in detail with principal bacterial signaling mechanisms -- making this a valuable resource for all advanced students in microbiology. Dr. Krämer is a world-renowned expert in intracellular signaling and its implications for biotechnology processes, while Dr. Jung is an expert on intercellular signaling and its relevance for biomedicine and agriculture.


Environmental Microbiology: Fundamentals and Applications

Environmental Microbiology: Fundamentals and Applications

Author: Jean-Claude Bertrand

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2015-01-26

Total Pages: 933

ISBN-13: 940179118X

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This book is a treatise on microbial ecology that covers traditional and cutting-edge issues in the ecology of microbes in the biosphere. It emphasizes on study tools, microbial taxonomy and the fundamentals of microbial activities and interactions within their communities and environment as well as on the related food web dynamics and biogeochemical cycling. The work exceeds the traditional domain of microbial ecology by revisiting the evolution of cellular prokaryotes and eukaryotes and stressing the general principles of ecology. The overview of the topics, authored by more than 80 specialists, is one of the broadest in the field of environmental microbiology. The overview of the topics, authored by more than 80 specialists, is one of the broadest in the field of environmental microbiology.


Implication of Quorum Sensing System in Biofilm Formation and Virulence

Implication of Quorum Sensing System in Biofilm Formation and Virulence

Author: Pallaval Veera Bramhachari

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2019-01-28

Total Pages: 377

ISBN-13: 9811324298

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This book illustrates the importance and significance of Quorum sensing (QS), it’s critical roles in regulating diverse cellular functions in microbes, including bioluminescence, virulence, pathogenesis, gene expression, biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance. Microbes can coordinate population behavior with small molecules called autoinducers (AHL) which serves as a signal of cellular population density, triggering new patterns of gene expression for mounting virulence and pathogenesis. Therefore, these microbes have the competence to coordinate and regulate explicit sets of genes by sensing and communicating amongst themselves utilizing variety of signals. This book descry emphasizes on how bacteria can coordinate an activity and synchronize their response to external signals and regulate gene expression. The chapters of the book provide the recent advancements on various functional aspects of QS systems in different gram positive and gram negative organisms. Finally, the book also elucidates a comprehensive yet a representative description of a large number of challenges associated with quorum sensing signal molecules viz. virulence, pathogenesis, antibiotic synthesis, biosurfactants production, persister cells, cell signaling and biofilms, intra and inter-species communications, host-pathogen interactions, social interactions & swarming migration in biofilms.


The Flagellar World

The Flagellar World

Author: Shin-Ichi Aizawa

Publisher: Elsevier

Published: 2013-12-16

Total Pages: 142

ISBN-13: 0124172830

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The Flagellar World is a unique publication. The product of years of research and data collection by the author, this book is a pictorial guide to flagella in a variety of organisms. Each EM image is accompanied by a short description of the system in each organism. These never-before-seen pictures represent a wide variety of flagella, including Legionella pneumophila, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and many others. Researchers in microbiology, immunology, and parasitology will find this a fascinating and useful resource. - A unique publication with many never before seen EM images of flagella - A historical document of years of research on flagella - Fills a specific niche that shows flagella in several varied organisms


The Perfect Slime

The Perfect Slime

Author: Hans-Curt Flemming

Publisher: IWA Publishing

Published: 2016-09-15

Total Pages: 336

ISBN-13: 1780407416

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The Perfect Slime presents the latest state of knowledge and all aspects of the Extracellular Polymeric Substances, (EPS) matrix – from the ecological and health to the antifouling perspectives. The book brings together all the current material in order to expand our understanding of the functions, properties and characteristics of the matrix as well as the possibilities to strengthen or weaken it. The EPS matrix represents the immediate environment in which biofilm organisms live. From their point of view, this matrix has paramount advantages. It allows them to stay together for extended periods and form synergistic microconsortia, it retains extracellular enzymes and turns the matrix into an external digestion system and it is a universal recycling yard, it protects them against desiccation, it allows for intense communication and represents a huge genetic archive. They can remodel their matrix, break free and eventually, they can use it as a nutrient source. The EPS matrix can be considered as one of the emergent properties of biofilms and are a major reason for the success of this form of life. Nevertheless, they have been termed the “black matter of biofilms” for good reasons. First of all: the isolation methods define the results. In most cases, only water soluble EPS components are investigated; insoluble ones such as cellulose or amyloids are much less included. In particular in environmental biofilms with many species, it is difficult to impossible isolate, separate the various EPS molecules they are encased in and to define which species produced which EPS. The regulation and the factors which trigger or inhibit EPS production are still very poorly understood. Furthermore: bacteria are not the only microorganisms to produce EPS. Archaea, Fungi and algae can also form EPS. This book investigates the questions, What is their composition, function, dynamics and regulation? What do they all have in common?


The Science and Applications of Synthetic and Systems Biology

The Science and Applications of Synthetic and Systems Biology

Author: Institute of Medicine

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2011-12-30

Total Pages: 570

ISBN-13: 0309219396

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Many potential applications of synthetic and systems biology are relevant to the challenges associated with the detection, surveillance, and responses to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. On March 14 and 15, 2011, the Institute of Medicine's (IOM's) Forum on Microbial Threats convened a public workshop in Washington, DC, to explore the current state of the science of synthetic biology, including its dependency on systems biology; discussed the different approaches that scientists are taking to engineer, or reengineer, biological systems; and discussed how the tools and approaches of synthetic and systems biology were being applied to mitigate the risks associated with emerging infectious diseases. The Science and Applications of Synthetic and Systems Biology is organized into sections as a topic-by-topic distillation of the presentations and discussions that took place at the workshop. Its purpose is to present information from relevant experience, to delineate a range of pivotal issues and their respective challenges, and to offer differing perspectives on the topic as discussed and described by the workshop participants. This report also includes a collection of individually authored papers and commentary.